4 Things Not to Do in Your Rental Car

Whenever you plan to rent a car, it’s a good idea to know all the rules beforehand. You should peruse the FAQ pages of the rental company and review any policies that may apply to you. However, today our team is discussing the unwritten rules of renting a car – rules that you may not have thought of. At Empire Rent A Car, we trust that you’d never do the following; but as a general reference tool, we decided to post the top four things that you should never do in your rental car.

1. Smoke

Smoking isn't a habit that we ever recommend but if you are a smoker, you should never smoke inside your rental car. If you or your passengers smoke or vape in a rental car, you will be charged a cleaning fee. Most non-smokers often will not accept a rental car that smells of smoke, so rental companies have to go to great lengths to get smoky odors out of a car.

2. Transport Your Pets

No one wants to sit in a car covered in pet hair or filled with a pet odor, so most companies will ask that you do not carry dogs or cats in the vehicle. However, if you must, it's a good idea to cover the area where your pet is going to be. If the vehicle comes back dirty or odorous due to pets, you will be charged an additional cleaning and deodorizing fee.

3. Flee a Crime

While this one may sound silly, we just wanted to make sure that you're not planning on doing any illegal activities in your rental car. There is no way to rent a car anonymously, so you should look elsewhere for a getaway car.

4. Teach Your Kid to Drive

If your teenager is learning to drive, we don't recommend using a rental car to practice in. A driver must be at least 18 years of age and if he/she is not on the rental agreement, he/she will not be covered by insurance, so it's best to save the driving lesson for another time.

At Empire Rent A Car, we hold our customers to high standards so that we can continue to rent only vehicles that are in incredible condition and are well maintained. Contact us today at (800) 750-8782 to make a reservation. We look forward to serving you in one of our multiple locations throughout New York.